Do you like this car?

If you take a stock California Bugeye that's been sitting since the 1970's and start to do minor modifications but still want it to look pretty much like a stock Bugeye you may do what I did.

I started by disassembling it completely and having it media blasted to bare metal. After repairing body panels and one floor pan the car was painted a beautiful Healey color. Colorado Red. I could have used Cherry Red which is an original AH Bugeye color but I simply like to be a bit different and the Colorado Red really pops!

I then looked at the stock stance of Bugeyes. just a little bit too high for my liking. A little lower in the front and the back is so much better. This car not only sits so much better now but also even handles better. At the same time I upgraded the front springs to 300 lb. springs and added the front sway bar. Of course all bushings and king pins were replaced.

Then I wanted it to go faster but still have the original looking engine. I could have just swapped the 948 motor with a built up 1275 motor. but isn't that what you see at all the local shows and Healey events? So I replaced the 948 motor with an Austin Healey 1098 motor. The two motors look identiacal but the 1098 motor has much better crank bearings. connecting rods and other parts. not to mention a little more cc always helps increase the hp. I had the 1098 motor rebuilt with the best of parts including ARP nuts and bolts. ported head and balanced crank/rods/pistons matched to a lightened fly wheel. This was all good. the car looks stock but performs better and is more reliable. But now I again wanted to be a bit different and I added the period correct Judson Supercharger with a Weber two barrel carburetor. The Judson Supercharger was professionally rebuilt and runs perfect. For exhaust I went with the LCB header (Long Center Branch) coupled to 1 ¾ inch pipes. To keep the engine running cool I upgraded the radiator with a Griffin high performance all aluminum radiator.

Now of course with this extra power you will need to address the drive train and brakes. So instead of just replacing the front drum brakes with disc brakes from a later Austin Healey Sprite I opted to replace all the drum brakes with disc brakes. Now the braking is perfect. the car stops smoothly and settles down on all four tires like a race car. Now all stock Bugeyes came with disc wheels and moon hub caps. they are fine and look great. The most common upgrade is mini lite wheels. I like the look but I felt with disc brakes on all four corners chrome spoke wheels would be a perfect match. They show off the disc brakes and add a bit more cooling on the brakes just like the vintage race Bugeyes. So why stop there when you can go ahead and add the 5 speed transmission so you still have plenty of acceleration but also have great cruising ability.

So. now you have a very correct looking Bugeye Sprite. the door panels are the original ribbed rubber inserts. gauges. dash. seats and even the original jack are correct. I swapped out the windshield to the 1958 windscreen. Its all chrome matches the wheels and finishes the car correct. As they say its all in the details. Also. the buyer will get the black California plates.

I have all photos of restoration many are on link below. Parts such as windshield wipers are included but not shown as are the front turn signal which were not installed at the time of the photos but are now installed. The original jack and lug wrench also comes with the car Photos of restoration can be seen at this link

I just added more photos and I probably have 100 total so if you have any questions about certain aspects of the car or would like to see a photo of something I probably have it. Its funny when looking back on the photos I remember working on the car for a few years and forgot how much work went into it. Its a very fun car and runs perfectly fine at 70mph on freeway. no shakes. vibrations or rattles and engine stays cool. I balanced the drive shaft too and that helps out and it has all new wheel bearings. Who ever gets the car will get all the restoration photos if they want them. If you look close on supercharger you will see a weber. however. when I first installed the Supercharger I used the Holley one barrel carb that came with it (its in some of the photos of restoration). The Holley was rebuilt too. but after driving it for a while I went with the weber 2 barrel carb. Seems to run better with it. I also had the distributor recurved and rebuilt to match up with supercharger. People have asked about tops and side windows. I have the original side windows and they are in good shape. rubber is good as is plastic and frames. The convertible bow frames are in great shape too. The '58 windscreen uses a different convertible top than the later model tops. I will provide a new black top from Moss that goes with the '58 windscreen at close of auction or if the new owner wants the original later style windscreen I have that top as well and it goes with the car. Its black too. To be clear the car does not come with both windscreens and tops just one. I also have a white hard top that is need of restoration. it has glass and hardware and can be purchased separately for an additional $500.